Cooling Device Comprising a Storage Tank Wherein the Liquid Stored Therein is Sterilized

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cooling device ( 1 ) having a body ( 2 ), a storage tank ( 3 ) wherein liquid is stored and at least one light source ( 4 ) that is disposed in the storage tank ( 3 ), providing the liquid to be sterilized, and wherein the liquid in the storage tank ( 3 ) is sterilized by using the light emitted from the light source ( 4 ).

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a storagetank wherein the liquid stored therein is sterilized.

In cooling devices (refrigerator, water dispenser, etc.), storage tanksare disposed for storing liquids. However, pathogenic microorganisms mayform in the liquids stored in the storage tank for a long time. For thisreason, the liquid in the storage tank must be sterilized and cleared ofmicroorganisms. Ultraviolet (UV) light is one of the widely-usedsterilization techniques for liquids. However, UV light is a type oflight with low penetration power. For this reason, the light cannotaffect every point of the storage tank with the same power and ahomogeneous liquid sterilization cannot be provided.

In Japanese Patent Document No. JP200405003, a liquid dispenser isdescribed, comprising a storage tank wherein water is stored, a UV lampthat allows the liquid in the storage tank to be sterilized and a wallthat allows the light emanating from the UV lamp to pass into the water.

In the Japanese Patent Document No. JP2005308283, a refrigerator isdescribed, that has a water tank located in the cool storage area andproduced from a light-permeable material, and a UV light source and thatprovides the water in the tank to be sterilized.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling devicecomprising a liquid storage tank wherein the liquid stored therein issterilized.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the presentinvention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claimsthereof comprises a storage tank wherein liquid is stored, at least onelight source preventing the presence of microorganisms in the liquid inthe storage tank and at least one guide that is produced from alight-conducting material, that spreads the light coming from the lightsource into the storage tank, one end of which extends into the storagetank and the other towards the light source.

The guide extends from the light source towards the inner volume of thestorage tank. Thus, the light coming from the UV light source spreadsinto the guide. By means of the light source extending into the storagetank, the UV light affects the liquid in the storage tank and providesthe liquid to be sterilized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprisesat least one flap that extends from the guide into the storage tank,conveying the light taken from the guide into the storage tank. By meansof the guide, the area in the inner volume of the storage tank the lightcoming from the light source affects is expanded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the flap is produced from alight-conducting material. The light coming from the light source isconveyed to the flaps by means of the guide. The flap is located on theguide and provides the surface area of the guide to be increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide extends along thestorage tank.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprisesthe light source disposed outside the storage tank and the guideextending from the light source towards the inside of the storage tank.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage tank is oflight-permeable type. Thus, the light emitted by the light sourcedisposed outside the storage tank penetrates through the storage tank,affects the liquid in the storage tank and provides it to be sterilized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the guides are positioned soas not to be aligned with respect to each other from the light sourcetowards the inside of the storage tank.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the flaps are positioned onthe guide so as not to be aligned with respect to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprisesa motor and the guide that provides the liquid to be stirred in thestorage tank with the energy generated by the motor. The guide rotatesin the storage tank, providing the water to be propelled. Thus, theliquid in the storage tank moves around the guide, and the penetrationefficiency of the UV light into the liquid is increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprisesa light source disposed outside the storage tank and the storage tankhaving at least one hole allows the guide extending from the lightsource to pass into the storage tank. The guide extending from the frontof the light source into the storage tank passes into the storage tankby means of the hole. The light emitted by the light source is conveyedto the liquid in the storage tank by means of the guide.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the water storage tank isproduced from semi-transparent or transparent material. The light comingfrom the light source spreads in the liquid by means of the storagetank. Thus, the light coming from the light source is provided topenetrate into the entire liquid in the storage tank by means of thestorage tank.

In an embodiment, the storage tank comprises a sealing element thatfills in the gap between the hole and the guide.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprisesat least one sensor that detects the presence of liquid in the storagetank and a control unit that regulates the operation of the lightsource. Light is provided to spread in the liquid continuously or atcertain time intervals by means of the control unit. In the case it isdetected by means of the sensor that there is no liquid in the storagetank, the operation of the light source and unnecessary energyconsumption are prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide provides the liquidin the storage tank to be stirred when the light source is on and doesnot move when the light source is off.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device is arefrigerator.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device is awater dispenser.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device is realized, havinga storage tank wherein the liquid therein is provided to be sterilizedand thus stored for a longer time.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the presentinvention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

FIG. 1—is the schematic view of a cooling device.

FIG. 2—is the view of detail A.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

-   -   1. Cooling device    -   2. Body    -   3. Storage tank    -   4. Light source    -   5. Guide    -   6. Motor    -   7. Flap    -   8. Hole    -   9. Control unit    -   10. Sealing element    -   11. Sensor

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), a storage tank (3) disposedin the body (2), wherein liquid is stored, at least one light source (4)disposed in the storage tank (3), providing the liquid to be sterilizedand at least one guide (5) that is produced from a light-conductingmaterial (ASA, PMMA, PC, PET, SMMA, etc.), that is at least partiallydisposed in the storage tank (3), that spreads the light coming from thelight source (4) in the storage tank (3), with one end extending towardsthe light source (4) and the other end at least partially extending intothe inner volume of the storage tank (3).

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, light is emittedfrom a light source (4) into the liquid in the storage tank (3) by meansof the guide (5), thereby providing the liquid to be sterilized. Theportion of the guide (5) that extends into the storage tank (3) at leastpartially contacts the liquid in the storage tank (3), thereby providingthe light to effectively spread in the liquid and the sterilization tobe effectively realized. Thus, the liquid is subject to lightcontinuously or at certain time intervals and is sterilized. The liquidin the storage tank (3) does not directly contact the light source (4).The light source (4) emits UV light that allows various liquids to besterilized (FIG. 1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises at least one flap (7) that is disposed on the guide (5) andthat provides the light to spread into the storage tank (3) by extendingoutwards from the guide (5). The light coming from the light source (4)is conveyed to the flaps (7) by means of the guide (5). By means of theflap (7), the surface area of the guide (5) is increased and the lightis provided to spread in the storage tank (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the flap (7) is produced fromlight-conducting material and provides the light to spread in thestorage tank (3). Thus, the light is provided to directly spread in thestorage tank (3) by means of the flap (7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (5) extends alongthe storage tank (3). Thus, the volume is increased, wherein the lightis conducted in the storage tank (3) by means of the guide (5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises the light source (4) disposed outside the storage tank (3) andthe guide (5) extending from the light source (4) towards the inside ofthe storage tank (3). Being outside the storage tank (3), the lightsource (4) is prevented from contacting the liquid in the storage tank(3), thus from being damaged.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage tank (3) is oflight-permeable type. Thus, the light coming from the light source (4)is provided to penetrate into the storage tank (3) and to spread in theliquid in the storage tank (3), and the surface area where the lightpenetrates the liquid in the storage tank (3) is increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises more than one guide (5) disposed in the storage tank (3) in astaggered manner. The guide (5) extends into the storage tank (3) frommore than one point and provides the light coming from the light source(4) to spread into the inner volume of the storage tank (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises more than one flap (7) disposed on the guide (5) in astaggered manner. The flaps (7) provide the surface area of the guide(5) to be increased, thus provides the volume wherein the light comingfrom the light source (4) spreads in the storage tank (3) to increase(FIG. 1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises a motor (6) and the guide (5) that is moved by the motor (6),thus providing the liquid to be stirred. The liquid in the storage tank(3) is continuously or at certain time intervals stirred by means of theguide (5) connected to the motor (6), thereby providing thesterilization effectiveness of the UV light in the liquid to beincreased at every point. Moreover, the liquid is provided to displaceby means of the guide (5) and thus liquids inclined to subside areprevented from subsiding (FIG. 2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage tank (3)comprises at least one hole (8) that enables the guide (5) to reach theinside of the storage tank (3). The guide (5) that is taken out of thestorage tank (3) by means of the hole (8) is provided to come to thefront of the light source (4) (FIG. 2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage tank (3)comprises at least one sealing element (10) that closes the gap betweenthe hole (8) and the guide (5), preventing the liquid in the storagetank (3) from leaking out of the storage tank (3). In this embodiment,the sealing element (10) is preferably in ring form. The sealing element(10) prevents the liquid from leaking out of the storage tank (3) (FIG.2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)comprises at least one sensor (11) disposed in the storage tank (3),detecting the presence of the liquid and at least one control unit (9)that controls the light source (4) according to the data received fromthe sensor (11). With the presence of liquid in the storage tank (3)being detected by the sensor (11), the light source (4) is provided tobe turned on. The light emitted by the light source (4) is conveyed intothe liquid in the storage tank (3) by means of the guide (5) and theliquid is provided to be sterilized. In case that there is no liquid inthe storage tank (3), the light source (4) is turned off, thuspreventing unnecessary energy consumption.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (9) enablesthe guide (5) to move when the light source (4) is on and enables theguide (5) to stop when the light source (4) is off. Thus, the guide (5)provides the liquid in the storage tank (3) only when the liquid isbeing sterilized by means of the light source (4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) is arefrigerator.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1)is a water dispenser.

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, by means of theguide (5), the light providing the liquid in the storage tank (3) isemitted continuously or at certain time intervals and the penetrationeffectiveness of the UV light into the liquid is increased with theliquid being stirred.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by theembodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easilyintroduce different embodiments. These should be considered within thescope of the protection postulated by the claims of the presentinvention.

1. A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), a storage tank (3)disposed in the body (2), wherein liquid is stored, at least one lightsource (4) disposed in the storage tank (3), providing the liquid to besterilized, characterized by at least one guide (5) that is producedfrom a light-conducting material, that is at least partially disposed inthe storage tank (3), with one end extending towards the light source(4) and the other end at least partially extending into the inner volumeof the storage tank (3), that spreads the light coming from the lightsource (4) in the storage tank (3).
 2. A cooling device (1) as in claim1, characterized by at least one flap (7) that is disposed on the guide(5) and that provides the light to spread into the storage tank (3) byextending outwards from the guide (5).
 3. A cooling device (1) as inclaim 2, characterized by the flap (7) that is produced from atransparent material and that provides the light to spread in thestorage tank (3).
 4. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, characterizedby the guide (5) that extends along the storage tank (3).
 5. A coolingdevice (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the light source (4) that isdisposed outside the storage tank (3) and the guide (5) that extendsfrom the light source (4) towards the inside of the storage tank (3). 6.A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the storage tank(3) with light-conducting feature.
 7. A cooling device (1) as in claim1, characterized by more than one guide (5) disposed in the storage tank(3) in a staggered manner.
 8. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2,characterized by more than one flap (7) disposed on the guide (5) in astaggered manner.
 9. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, characterizedby a motor (6) and the guide (5) that is moved by the motor (6), thusproviding the liquid to be stirred.
 10. A cooling device (1) as in claim1, characterized by at least one hole (8) arranged on the storage tank(3), enabling the guide (5) to reach the inside of the storage tank (3).11. A cooling device (1) as in claim 10, characterized by at least onesealing element (10) that closes the gap between the hole (8) and theguide (5), preventing the liquid in the storage tank (3) from leakingout of the storage tank (³).
 12. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1,characterized by at least one sensor (11) disposed in the storage tank(3), detecting the presence of the liquid and at least one control unit(9) that controls the light source (4) according to the data receivedfrom the sensor (11).
 13. A cooling device (1) as in claim 12,characterized by the control unit (9) that enables the guide (5) to movewhen the light source (4) is on and that enables the guide (5) to stopwhen the light source (4) is off.
 14. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1which is a refrigerator.
 15. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, whichis a water dispenser.